Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 2, 00-00 (2009) ISSN: 0973-9505 (Available online at www.tcrjournals.com) Original Article

MAMMALS OF OF OF

? LAWATE, D. V. AND MULE, M. B.1

Department of Zoology, University, , 416004, 1Department of Environmental Science, BAMU, Aurangabad, 431004. E. mail: [email protected]

Receibed: September 13, 2009;

Abstract: The present paper deals with the of Chandoli National Park. The park is partly situated in Kolhapur, , Satara and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra state. The studies on the mammals from Chandoli National Park specify the presence of 34 species of mammals belonging to 30 genera scattered over 19 families. Out of these 5 species are vulnerable, one is threatened, one is near threatened and one is endangered.

Key words: - Mammals, Chandoli, Western Ghats

INTRODUCTION magnificent information on the wild life sanctuaries and National Parks form Maharashtra.. They have is mega- country providing habitat reported 26 species of mammals from Chandoli to 410 mammals species [1]. The complex National Park. The objective of the present study is ecosystems were formed due to different kinds of to report mammalian species existing in Chandoli environmental and climatic conditions which National Park of Western Ghats of Maharashtra. automatically support huge number of verPtebrates.roof METHODOLOGY Mammals of different region from India have been extensively studied by many workers with well Study Area: Chandoli National Park falls partly recognized scientific approaches. Rapid urbanization, in four districts, Viz. Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and development of agriculture, industrialization and Ratnagiri, in between Koyana and Radhanagari mining’s to fulfill the needs of the society led to the Wildlife Sanctuaries in Maharashtra state. This region destruction of habitats and forests of India. These comes in East side of the Western Ghats. developments have posed a warning to wild animals including mammals, those existence is being The total area of the Park is 317.67 sq. k.m. It extends threatened day by day. Therefore, it is essential to between latitude 17° 3’ 29" North to 17° 17’ 0" keep an eye on mammalian species time to time North and longitude 73° 41’ 55" East to 73° 51’ 55" existing in our for forest and those which are in danger East. It is about 78 k.m. from Kolhapur. The and require special care. On account of this many topographical and climatic conditions change with private and government agencies has put complete change in altitude. The Park itself includes semi- ban on hunting and prohibiting the use of wild animals evergreen forest and deciduous forest [6]. Due to in scientific research. Along with this, many devoted varied ecological conditions it is rich in flora and scientists are regularly checking the different animal . species in the forest. As for example Sharma [2] reported 30 species of mammals from state of Methodology: To prepare the checklist of Hariyana and Pande and Pathak [3] have given mammals of Chandoli National Park, the diurnal

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Table 1: Checklist of mammals of chandoli national park. Note: En – Endangered; Vu – Vulnerable; Th – Threatened; Nr Th – Near threatened; Sch-I – Schedule – I.

Sr.No. Common Name Scientific Name Status

Order- Primates Family- Cercopithecidae 1 Bonnet Macaca radiata (Geoffroy) 2 Common Langur Semnopithecus entellus Nr Th (Dufresne) Order- Carnivora Family- Felidae 3 Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) En 4 / Panther Panthera pardus (Linnaeus) Th 5 Leopard Cat Felis bengalensis (Kerr) 6 Jungle Cat Felis chaus (Giildenstaedt) Family- Viverridae 7 Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica (Desmarest) 8 Small Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Pallas) Family- Herpestidae 9 Common Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi (Geoffroy) 10 Ruddy-tailed Mongoose Herpestes smithii (Gray) 11 Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis (Bennett) Family- Canidae 12 Indian Wild Dog / Cuon alpinus (Pallas) Vu 13 Jackal Canis aureus (Linnaeus) Family- Ursidae 14 Melurus ursinus (Shaw) Vu Family- Hyaenidae 15 Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus) Order- Chiroptera Family- Pteropidae 16 Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich) 17 Fulvous Fruit Bat Rousettus leschenautti (Desmarest) 18 Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl) Family- Rhinolopidae Pr oof 19 Lesser-woolly Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus beddomei (Anderson) Family- Vespertilionidae 20 Indian Pipistrelle Pipistrellus coramandra (Gray) Order- Rodentia Family- Sciuridae 21 Indian Giant squirrel Ratufa indica (Erxleben) Vu 22 Three-stripped Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum (Linnaeus) Family- Muridae 23 House Rat Rattus rattus (Linnaeus) 24 House mouse Mus musculus (Waterhouse) Family- Hystricidae 25 Indian Porcupine Hystrix indica (Kerr) Order- Logomorpha Family- Leporidae 26 Indian Blacknapped Hare Lepus nigricollis (Cuvier) Order- Artiodactyla Family- Bovidae 27 Indian Bos gaurus (Smith) Vu

2 Lawate and Mule andnocturnal observations were carried out by visiting our study we never found these species in the National study area at monthly intervals during the post- Park. However, occasionally the Indian Fox and season from October, 2003 to September, were observed from the small villages and their 2006. The work was extended up to December 2008 periphery of and tahsil. for getting more comprehensive data about mammals. The identification of animals (mammals) was done Out of 34 species of mammals found in Chandoli by two methods. I) Direct observations of mammals National Park, 5 species (Indian Wild Dog (Cuon were done in study area mostly near water bodies alpinus), Sloth Bear (Melurus ursinus), Indian Giant and were identified by discussion with authorities of Squirrel (Ratufa indica), Gaur (Bos gaurus) and National Park and by the help of available literature Four-horned (Tetracerus quadricornis) such as Prater [4] and Bang and Dahlstrom [5]. II) were found to be vulnerable. Leopard (Panthera The mammals were also observed and identified by pardus) was threatened; the Hanuman Langur evidences of their presence like tracks, vocalization, (Semnopithecus entellus) was found to be near scats etc. threatened and (Panthera tigris) were the endangered ones. We also participated in diurnal and nocturnal visits organized by forest department, by walking trails at ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS rates of 1 to 1.5 km./hr., and recording mammals or their evidences and identified by using available We are thankful to Maharashtra Forest Department literature. The mammals recorded were categorized and the Management of Chandoli National Park for as i) endangered, ii) vulnerable, iii) threatened and their extending help during research work. R.F.O., iv) near threatened. All are listed in table 1. A.C.F. of Chandoli National Park and C.F., Kolhapur Wild Life Division are appreciated for showing RESULTS AND DISCUSSION important areas and sharing valuable information. We show gratitude to Mr. D. Jadhav, Mr. F. Mhetar, Mr. A comprehensive list of 34 species of mammals in R. Bhambure, Green Guards, Kolhapur and Mr. R. Chandoli National Park was prepared as presented Kulkarni, Pugmark Art Gallery, Kolhapur. We in table 1. A total of 34 species of mammals belonging acknowledge Mr. T. Khan, Mr. K. Nike and Mr. H. to 19 families are distributed over 34 genera. Divekar, Nature Conservation Society, Sangli for their field knowledge and help during field work. Without Intentional fires by local people during summer is these helps the work would have not been possible. common. It is damaging the habitats and feeding grounds of mammals in the park area. InPterventionroof REFERENCES of people living in adjoining area of park for their cultural activities, unmanageable visits of large number [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/ Fauna of India. of tourists with their vehicles even in core zone of [2]Sharma, N.K.: Mammals of Haryana. Rec. Zool. Surv. the park area is creating a great threat for the survival India, 91(3-4): 399-416 (1992). of mammals. Effective preventive measures from [3]Pande, P. and Pathak, N.: National Parks and the staff of forest department are required to Sanctuaries in Maharashtra. Reference Guide vol. 2, Pub. Ruchel Reuben for the BNHS, (2005). overcome the same problems. [4]Prater, S.H.: The Book of Indian Animals; Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press. PP- In the recent past, the mammals have been thoroughly 324 (2005). studied from different National Parks and Wildlife [5]Bang, P. and Dahlstrom, P.: Collins Guide to Animals Sanctuaries. Sharma [2] studied the mammals of Tracks and Signs; Printed by Wm. Collins Sons and Hariyana and enlisted 30 species of mammals. Co. Ltd., Glasgow (1980). Yazdani, et al. [7] reported 48 species of mammals [6]Champion, H.G. and Seth, S.K.: A Revised Survey of among the 172 species of vertebrates from Sanjay Forest Types of India. Govt. of India; New Delhi, Gandhi National Park, Bombay. (1968). [7]Yazdani, G.M., Pradhan, M.S. and Singh, D.F.: Fauna of Conservation Areas: Fauna of Sanjay Gandhi Pande and Pathak in 2005 [3] also studied the National Park, Bombay (Vertebrates); Rec. Zool. Surv. mammals of Chandoli National Park. Their list India, 92(1-4): pp 225-251 (1992). included Indian Fox, Jackal and Tree Shrew. During

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